Originally, I posted this to my former blog in the fall of 2009.  Thought it might be worth a re-read.  The picture is taken at the Starbucks at the Forbidden City in Beijing, China.  I’ll go anywhere for a good cup of coffee!

As a pastor’s wife, I don’t get many vices.  Starbucks.  Combing the sale racks at Target.  Neither of these ‘guilty pleasures’ are that guilty!  And for that matter, I don’t have to shrink into the darkness to do these things.

It is true the enemy uses the shadowy dark to entice mankind in all manner of vices.

Take casinos for example.  They are dark.  No windows at all.  The lack of light lulls the gambler into losing track of the day.  Thereby, spending way more time and money in the casino than he might have planned.

The lack of light is a trick.

But it occurred to me there is one sin that is too proud to be confined to the night.  Pride loves the daylight.  In fact, pride is so proud it doesn’t even know to be ashamed and slink into the night.

Pride desires an audience.

Pride longs for visibility.

Certainly, I don’t have to slink in the dark to get a Starbucks, but in many ways my daylight vices are just as hideous and unpleasing to a holy God.

Misdirected pride steals glory from God.  And taking pride in good things can steal from God when we assume credit for them or think we have accomplished them on our own.

We may begin to take credit for the very blessings that God has bestowed on us.  “I am climbing up my career ladder faster than I thought.  I am really good at my job, because I am so smart.” Never mind that God gave you the job much less that He has given you the knowledge and experience to do well.

Or, you moms might recognize this one….”My kids are so much more well-behaved that the __________kids.  I am probably a better mom than ____________.”  (you fill in the blanks!)

Pretty soon pride overtakes our thoughts.  We know better than God.  We out think God.  Like the gambler in the dark casino, we are lulled into thinking about our circumstances and ourselves way too much.

Over time, God consumes very little of  our thoughts.  In his pride the wicked does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God.

God wants nothing to do with our pride. He resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.

Literally, God stiff arms the proud person.  Picture God with His arm stretched out holding you at bay, not allowing you to get close to Him.   Pride steals glory from God.  Pride says I can do it on my own.  Pride shows no dependence on God.

Don’t be stiff-armed by God.  What daytime vices must you give up?

How have you been lulled into stealing God’s glory?

The great news is that God gives grace to the humble.  I don’t know about you, but I the one thing I am in constant need of is more of God’s grace.